Improvement in fruit-driers



BENJAMIN L. RYDER, OF LOUDON, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FRUIT-DRIERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 133,060, dated November 12, 1872.

To all whom -it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN L. RYDER, a resident of Loudon, county of Franklin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Fruit-Drier, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to that class of fruitdriers where heated air is made to pass over, under, and around the fruit for the purpose of rapidly drying it; and consists in the arrangement of the drying-trays, and the method of conveying to them the heated air, and their successively being fed in the apparatus, as will be more fully hereinafter described.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the drier. Fig. 2 is an end view of a drying-tray. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same.

A B C D E F represent six different traysv placed in their relative positions on the inclined rails, which extend from end to end of the box, on each side, being notched, as at a a a, 85e., to hold the trays, which have a del pendent bracket, a', to prevent them from slid- Fing backward, the inclination of these rails being varied to suit the occasions which may arise for slow or rapid drying. G is the lower p side, and G the upper side of the hot-air ilue, extending from over the heater to the outlet end at G. H is the box, made of any desirable and convenient material-either wood or metal-having its sides and bottommade tight, and on top doors H H', which can be raised on their hinges. The end door has a perforated plate, h, (a wire-cloth or mosquito netting) extending down so as to cover the end of the box, to keep out insects, and yet not to stop the draft of the air. Iis the heater, placed in the chamber J, which is constructed to be air tight, having on one or more of its sides perforations through which the air can be admitted to the heater, and pass upward to the flue G G. K is a standard hinged to the rear bottoms being made of slats c c cto retain the fruit and permit the hot air to pass upward between them. The sides are made close, so that when placed for operation in the box they will form a continuous connection to prevent the air from passing except through the bottom between the slats. The ends are beveled, as at a b.

For ordinary purposes a common nine or ten plate or any other kind of wood or coal stove is encased with brickwork, sheet-iron, or its equivalent, so as to form an air-space between the stove andcasing, while openings are to be left near therbottoin of the casing to admit the cold air, as shown in Fig. l at w a', which air becomes heated by contact with the stove, and, passing upward into the box G, dries the fruit in the trays.

I do not conne myself to the use of a stove or other heater, as thus explained; but hot air from any other source whatever may be conveyed to the under side of the box at G, without the use of a special stove being provided.

Operation.

The fruit is prepared and put into one of the trays, which is then placed at the lowest part of the box at F, and while another portion of fruit is being similarly prepared and placed in the second tray, the irst is partially dried; the second is then placed in the first ones place, that being shoved up by it; the third tray is then prepared and entered below, and when shoved upward forces the other two along; and thus as each successive tray shall be filled and placed below it shoves upward the preceding trays, which, in the ordinary length of box, is continued long enough to permit the hot air to thoroughly dry it before reaching the upper end, when the attendant will remove it, and after disposing of the contents thetray will be ready for refilling. Should the fruit, upon inspection, prove not to be sufficiently dry, two trays may be emptied into one and be carried over again.

It will be observed that in this process the fresh fruit is subjected to the strongest heat, whereby it becomes at once partially dried, and prevented from discoloration, which gives it a higher value in the market.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The tray B for drying fruit, constructed with beveled ends a b, close sides and ends, upper flue, G and G', substantially as and for and slat bottom cc c, 'substantially as and for the purpose described.

the purpose described. 4. The drying-box, hinged in such a man- 2. The series of trays, of any number, arner to be adjustedat any inclination desired.

ranged consecutively on the incline Ways, in BENJAMIN L. RYDER.

a drying apparatus, substantially as and for the purpose described. VVituesses:

3. The drying-chamber, constructed so as JOHN A. RYDER,

to be divided by the trays into a lower and C. O. SEYLAR. 

